My New Home

I recently moved from my ranch just outside of Tucson, Ariz. to a smaller home in the city. There's still a lot to do around the house, but in the meantime, I'm cooking, working, and spending time with my dogs, Asha & Ajax.

I use organic spinach. Spinach is a member of the "Dirty Dozen" - fruits and vegetables generally containing the highest concentrations of pesticide residues that you should always buy organic. Learn which fruits and veggies make up the Dirty Dozen.

Even if a package of greens states “prewashed,” you should still wash your greens to minimize your risk of exposure to pathogens such as E. coli and salmonella - greens that look fresh, especially greens in plastic, can still harbor bacteria. Loose and unpacked greens should be washed three times under cold, running water to remove sand, dirt and any bacteria that may be present.

Good-quality olive oil makes good-quality dressing. In other words, your dressing will only taste as fresh as your ingredients. Try to buy your olive oil and herbs from trusted organic brands when making this dressing or any other recipe.

"Why eat root veggies? Root vegetables (potatoes and carrots aside) are some of the most overlooked and underappreciated foodstuffs around. But these nutritional storehouses are worthy of your notice. They're not only available in winter when other vegetables are hard to find, but they're also very inexpensive."

Potatoes make the cut. Though typically fried or drenched in fatty sauces, a potato on its own is remarkably low in calories (at 132 per cup). This humble vegetable is also high in vitamins C and B6, providing about 25 percent of the daily requirements for each nutrient.